Concernig those statements made by him agai[n]st Joseph Smith we know that they are false; has our entire confidence, we know that he has violated no law, nor has he in any wise promoted sedition or rebellion, nor has he sought the injury of any Citizen of this or any other state place, we are perfectly assured that he is as loyal, patriotic, & virtuous a man as three [there] is in the state of , & we appeal to your if in there [three] years acquaintance with him. you have seen any thing to the contrary.

Inasmuch as this is the case, we, your Petitioners knowing that Joseph Smith could not have justice done him by the State of , that he has suffered enough in that unjustly already, & that if he goes there its is only to be murdered. Pray your not to issue a writ for him to be given up to the authorities of ,— but if your thinks that he has violated any law, we request that he may be tried by the authorities of this , for he shrinks not from investigation. We furthermore pray that our lives & the lives of our wives & children may be precious in your sight & that we may have the privilige of following our avocations of living on our farms & by our own firesides in peace, & that nor any other person may not be able to influence your wither by intrigue or false hood to Suffer us as a people to be injured by mob or violence, but if in the estimation of your we have done wrong we appeal to the laws of this

Having heard a report that your had called upon Several companies of miltia to prepare themselves & be in readiness in case of emergency, we wanted further ask <​of​> your , that if the state or county <​country​> should be in danger [p. [6]]